KATHMANDU: The Nepal government brings various programs to promote home-grown products. It has also declared some areas as the super pocket zone as part of its promotional program. Despite all these efforts, the import of fruits has gone unabated in the country.

Apples are being currently grown in seven districts – Jumla, Humla, Mugu, Kalikot, Dolpa, Manang and Mustang. Apple farming has not spread to other districts of the country. Hence, Nepal still has to import apples worth over Rs 5 billion annually.

The demand for apples is higher in Tihar than in the Dashain festival since it is used not only for ‘Bhai Masala’, an assortment of dry fruits given to brothers by sisters during Bhai Tika, but it is also offered to gods during rituals.

According to the customs department, fruits worth Rs 3.207 billion have been imported for Dashain and Tihar this year.

Fruit sellers have said that apples are consumed by two times in Tihar than in the Dashain festival.

Kaushila Chaulagain, a fruit seller at Kuleshwar, has said that apple sale has doubled with the start of the Tihar festival.

“I could not make good business as expected in Dashain,” said she. “But apples sell well in Tihar.

She has been running a fruit shop at Kuleshwar for the last 12 years.

The production of apples in Nepal can only meet the 30 percent demand of the country. Apples are mainly imported from China and India to meet the remaining 70 percent demands of customers, according to fruit sellers.

The demand of apples is higher in Tihar than in the Dhashain festival since it is used not only for ‘Bhai Masala’, an assortment of dry fruits given to brothers by sisters during Bhai Tika, but it is also offered to gods during rituals.

The import of fruits is increasing by three times during every festival, according to the Federation of Fruits and Vegetables Entrepreneurs, Nepal (FEFVEN).

“In the normal days, the fruits worth Rs 30 million are imported,” said Khem Prasad Ghimire, chairperson of the FEFVEN. “Fruits worth Rs 90 million a day are imported during Dashain and Tihar festivals. This comes around 1,300 tons.

There will be no shortage of apples during Tihar nor will the price go up. The largest amount of fruits comes from India, according to him.

Fruits worth Rs 3 billion imported during Dashain, Tihar festivals

Fruits are imported every year since the domestic products do not meet the demands.

According to the customs department, fruits worth Rs 3.207 billion have been imported for Dashain and Tihar this year. Bananas worth Rs 397.6 million, guava-mango Rs 325. 9 million, orange Rs 404.7 million, lemon Rs 386.6 million, grapes Rs 356.8 million, apples Rs 1.987 billion have been imported, targeting the Dashain-Tihar festival.

Fruits worth Rs 13 billion imported

The demand for fruits is increasing every year in the Nepali market, according to the records marinated by the Customs Department.

According to the record of the Department, fruits including banana, mango, grape, apple, orange, and lemon, worth Rs 13.284 billion have been imported in the fiscal year 2018/19.